Ford Motor (NYSE:F) Price Target Raised to $14.50

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) had its price objective boosted by BNP Paribas Exane from $14.00 to $14.50 in a report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. BNP Paribas Exane currently has a neutral rating on the auto manufacturer’s stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Ford Motor from $13.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Ford Motor from $14.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, June 8th. Barclays upped their target price on Ford Motor from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Ford Motor from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Ford Motor from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $14.50 to $17.50 in a research report on Monday, July 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ford Motor presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $15.68.

Ford Motor Stock Performance

NYSE F opened at $14.70 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $14.55 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $13.47. Ford Motor has a 12-month low of $10.68 and a 12-month high of $17.78. The company has a market capitalization of $58.56 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.07.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.09. Ford Motor had a negative net margin of 3.93% and a positive return on equity of 17.23%. The company had revenue of $48.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $47.24 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.37 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Ford Motor will post 1.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Ford Motor Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 11th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 11th. Ford Motor’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -32.09%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ford Motor

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in F. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Ford Motor during the fourth quarter worth about $674,437,000. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 81.1% in the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 35,438,722 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock worth $423,847,000 after acquiring an additional 15,866,285 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 610.1% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 11,177,304 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $146,646,000 after purchasing an additional 9,603,267 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 26.9% in the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 38,153,383 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $500,572,000 after purchasing an additional 8,086,564 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ford Motor by 458.7% during the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 9,002,765 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $103,892,000 after purchasing an additional 7,391,361 shares during the last quarter. 58.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Ford Motor News

Here are the key news stories impacting Ford Motor this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Profit beat supports the stock: Ford reported quarterly earnings of $0.42 per share, exceeding the $0.33 analyst consensus, while revenue of $48.30 billion also topped expectations. The earnings beat outweighed the year-over-year revenue decline and has been a key reason for the stock’s recent increase. Why Ford Stock Is Up Today
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment is improving modestly: DZ Bank upgraded Ford from “sell” to “hold” and set a $16 price target, implying approximately 9% potential upside from the recently cited share price. JPMorgan, TD Cowen and Piper Sandler also reportedly forecast further appreciation. Ford Analyst Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Defense business offers diversification: Ford secured its largest U.S. Army truck contract since the Cold War, involving F-Series-based tactical truck prototypes. The program could provide an additional revenue opportunity beyond conventional vehicle sales. Ford Lands Army Truck Contract
• Neutral Sentiment: Brokerage consensus remains cautious: Ford has an average “hold” recommendation, while BNP Paribas Exane raised its target from $14 to $14.50 but maintained a neutral rating. BNP Paribas Exane Ford Target
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusually large options activity may increase trading volatility, but the available report does not establish whether investors were betting bullishly or bearishly. Ford Options Trading
• Negative Sentiment: EV momentum appears to be weakening: Ford and General Motors are reportedly discussing electric vehicles less frequently with investors after previously committing billions of dollars to EV initiatives. This may reinforce concerns about strategy, demand and the returns on Ford’s EV investments. GM and Ford EV Strategy
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts and commentators remain skeptical of Ford’s attempts to diversify beyond automobiles, citing the automaker’s mixed track record with such initiatives. Ford Diversification Concerns
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Jim Farley warned employees that Chinese automakers could enter the U.S. market within five to ten years, highlighting a longer-term competitive threat despite current trade barriers. Ford CEO on Chinese Competition

About Ford Motor

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, the company became an early pioneer of mass-production techniques with the Model T and the adoption of the moving assembly line. Today, Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a broad range of vehicles and mobility solutions under the Ford and Lincoln brands, spanning passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and commercial vehicles.

Ford’s business activities extend beyond vehicle production to include parts and aftermarket services, fleet and commercial sales, and automotive financing through Ford Motor Credit Company.